Welcome Back to the 2013-14 School Year!

By on September 3, 2013

Lisa Castle, UBC VP HR

“Commit to your wellbeing” is the principal message to share for this academic year. “Be present to being well. When we’re well, we are able to deal more effectively with all the stuff coming at us in our lives,” advised Lisa Castle, UBC Vice President, Human Resources.

Another year of school is beginning, and in addition to the standard hustle and bustle of changing seasons, the University is going through changes as we prepare for the future. Some of them include the change of President next year; the development of flexible learning initiatives; tightening resources; and another round of collective bargaining with all unions and associations in 2014.

With change comes tremendous opportunities for growth and resilience. UBC is in a strong position to adapt and evolve to these changes: “We are stable, and we have the right people in the right roles to work through them,” said Lisa.

Seeing the larger picture will also help us in adapting to changes effectively. The primary focus of the work we do is for and with students: creating an exceptional learning environment and a continued emphasis on improving the student experience. UBC staff and faculty continue to strive both in front of and behind the scenes on improving the quality of the educational experience. “In my time here,” Lisa said, “I have never seen more sustained focus on giving life to this commitment.”

Students, faculty and staff should know that UBC is not only evolving its physical campus attributes with expanded green and informal spaces, but also on the learning front itself through the Flexibility Learning Initiative. This huge and important endeavour will continue to shape the university in the coming years.

With all the changes taking place during this busy time, it is important to remember that UBC is more than a place to learn, work and live; it is a diverse, unique, and welcoming community for all. Please take the time to be well. It can be something as simple as enjoying our campuses’ beautiful green spaces, pausing for reflection in quiet spaces, and experiencing the camaraderie of our colleagues. Being mindful of the bigger picture and committing to your wellbeing will help us all contribute both individually and as a community to another successful academic year.